How to relax your mind with yoga
Causes of Stress affects many illnesses, Reduce Stress with Yoga
The term ‘yoga’ originates from the Sanskrit ‘Yaj’, which means to join or unite.
Yoga is a 5,000-year-old practice (originating in Ancient India), that embodies the unity of mind, body and spiritual aspects of your being. Discover your potential as you emerge into a more healthy and fit new body. You may experience weight loss and lose inches as you stretch and strengthen your muscle mass. You might find that yoga is made for you, just like a tailored suit or dress, your instructors have you covered if you need assistance. Challenge yourself to inspire others and read on how to relax your mind with yoga. You’ll find out which health benefits of yoga for senior citizens will enhance and change your life.
Choosing an instructor you connect with is KEY
When I first started, I saw the same instructor the first two times. I thought it was about stretches and poses only. I soon found out that it’s so much more, stress causes many illnesses we can overcome, and yoga helps you to shed those stresses. The class was all about relaxing your mind with yoga and meditation methods, breathing and living in the now, leaving all your worries at the door. The next time, I went to the same place but there was a different instructor. I preferred one over the other and stuck with that one. If you feel a good connection, you’ll enjoy it more. Once you find the style and level of yoga class you prefer, then shop around to find which teacher you resonate with. The right teacher is key to a positive experience with yoga. Be sure to consult with your doctor before starting to gauge overall health and advise.
Questions and Answers,
What is the relationship between stress and illness?
Chronic stress disrupts nearly every system in your body. It can suppress your immune system, upset digestive and reproductive systems, increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, and speed up the aging process. It can even rewire the brain, leaving you more vulnerable to anxiety and depression.
What can I do to get healthier through yoga?
Yoga improves strength, balance and flexibility. Slow movements and deep breathing increase blood flow and warm up muscles, while holding a pose can build strength. Stretches allow for more mobility and flexibility.
What’s all the fuss about?
Yoga strengthens your mind, body and soul. It teaches you to live in the now and gives you a chance to leave all worries at the door. It’s relaxing and purifying of the mind. It replenishes your soul and that my friend, is healthy for you.
What are the benefits to your health while practicing yoga?
Better digestion, improved balance, reduces head aches and fatigue, helps asthma, lessened anxiety and relieves symptoms of menopause and menstrual discomfort.
Can seniors practice yoga?
There are workouts for seniors who wish to regain their youth. Building bone and muscle is essential to a senior’s health as well as a stronger immune system, efficient lungs, better blood pressure and counteracted the weakness that comes with age. It’s a life changer for seniors with arthritis, osteoporosis, pulmonary disease and even diabetes2. Yoga changes overall quality of life.
Is yoga a spiritual thing?
Yoga is a way to cultivate wholeness. It can help you remember wholeness and recognize it everywhere. For some yogis, wholeness is the spiritual practice of yoga. Spirituality helps you trust in life and yourself even when managing difficult situations.
Is there a mild yoga for the elderly?
Yoga is suitable for everyone from children to the oldest of elderly. It’s low impact. You never have to do anything that yanks you, pulls at you or hurts you. Most of the standard yoga poses can be modified for those who have physical limitations. There are figures that can be done in a chair or even a wheelchair. If you have joint pain or reduced range of motion, it’s an ideal way to get the exercise that will help you feel better.
Yoga for beginners” or ‘Gentle Yoga”. These classes aren’t less yoga but more of accommodating for immobility or past injuries. I use the chair when I can’t bend my knees in certain stretches. or I improvise and do what’s comfortable to me.
Where can I start?
You can search online for a yoga group to join; you can get a tutor and have private lessons. you can yoga at home while watching a live or taped video, go on You Tube and check out Yoga class for beginners. They have several videos you can watch. A gentle yoga class can be a good choice. Chair (or seated) yoga is a great option if your mobility or balance is limited. Move at your own pace and remember that any yoga pose can be modified so it’s right for you. Just ask your teacher. A study from the University of Wisconsin linked yoga to increased activity in the brains left prefrontal cortex, which impacts happiness and immune function.
Gyms, most mega gyms offer yoga classes. Having a membership at a gym potentially give you access to yoga at no additional cost.
What do I wear to a yoga class?
Sports bra, tank shirts or singlets, these kinds of clothing give you the freedom to perform movements. Tights or shorts. If you want to up-dress for the occasion, by all means buy some cute yoga gear, whatever you feel comfortable in.
What do I bring to my first class?
Yoga clothing, mat and accessories. I bought a mat (they come in different thickness), some comfortable Yoga pants and a shirt. It’s better to focus more on learning principles and basic practices than outfitting yourself with gear you don’t really need. If you want to buy fancy gear, by all means do it but you may want to wait until your practice is established before making unnecessary purchases.
Does anyone offer yoga clothes for seniors?
Yes, you can go online to senior yoga clothes. You can wear your sweatpants or shorts. Anything you wear, make sure your mobility isn’t hampered.
‘There are many benefits of yoga and meditation.
Mental, physical and spiritual benefits are only some of the healing attributes. The main cause of induced illnesses is stress. Let’s look at how your body reacts to stress and what you need to do to lower levels of stress.
Reduce the level of oxidated stress in seniors
Oxidative stress is a phenomenon caused by an imbalance between production and accumulation of oxygen reactive species ROS (Reactive oxygen species are a group of small reactive molecules that play critical roles in the regulation of various cell functions and biological processes.) cells and tissues and the ability of a biological system to detoxify these reactive products. Oxidative stress acts mainly as a trigger of atherosclerosis. It is well known that atheromatous plaque formation results from an early endothelial inflammation, which in turn leads to ROS generation.
Oxidative stress has been linked to a myriad of pathologies. However, elevated ROS also act as signaling molecules in the maintenance of physiological functions–a process termed redox biology.
Atherosclerosis is a narrowing of the arteries caused by a buildup of plaque. Arteries are the blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients from your heart to the rest of your body. As you get older, fats, cholesterol, and calcium can collect in your arteries and form plaque.
How can I reverse atherosclerosis?
Oxidative stress refers to elevated intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that cause damage to lipids, proteins and DNA. Oxidative stress has been linked to a myriad of pathologies. However, elevated ROS also act as signaling molecules in the maintenance of physiological functions–a process termed redox biology.
9 impressive benefits of a regular yoga practice.
Ranging from better sleep to improved heart health, to less stress, and cell damage that leads to age-related illness and chronic disease.
- Yoga improves strength, balance and flexibility. slow movements and deep breathing increase blood flow and warm up muscles.
- Helps with back pain relief, yoga is as good as basic stretching for easing pain and improving mobility in folks with lower back pain.
- Yoga can ease arthritis symptoms, Gentle yoga has been shown to ease some of the discomfort of tender, swollen joints for people with arthritis.
- Relaxes you and help you sleep better; a consistent bedtime yoga routine can help get you in the right mindset and prepare your body to fall asleep.
- Benefits heart health, regular yoga practice may reduce levels of stress and body-wide inflammation.
- Yoga can mean more energy and brighter moods, you may feel increased mental and physical energy, a boost in alertness and enthusiasm.
- Manageable stress, according to the National Institutes of Health, scientific evidence show that yoga supports stress management, mental health, mindfulness, weight loss, healthy eating and quality sleep.
- Yoga connects you with a supportive community, participating in yoga classes can ease loneliness and provide environmental healing and support
- Promotes better self-care, Yoga is finally being recognized across the nation! The U.S. military, the National Institutes of Health and other large organizations are listening and incorporating — scientific validation of yoga’s value in health care.
Join in with the 20.4 million people in America!
Celebrating Global Yoga Day
Join Global yoga enthusiasts from New Delhi to Canada and New Zealand to China, people all around the world greeted the sun with various yoga themed events. You can take part in yoga celebrations by stretching and bending with millions of yoga enthusiasts who’ve organized mass practices in gyms, government spaces, parks and public places worldwide.
June 21st is International Yoga Day? The United Nations General Assembly unanimously voted to establish a day for yoga on December 11, 2014.
Types of yoga for seniors and beginners
- Chair yoga for seniors is a blend of yoga and fitness to target areas of weakness, inflammation and tension.
- Yoga makes you happier, remember it affects your left prefrontal cortex impacting happiness.
- Hatha yoga…restorative yoga is usually more suitable for older adults.
- Yoga is an excellent way for older adults to combat osteoporosis and strengthen bones.
- Gentle yoga…Yields positive results when it comes to bone health.
- Bonus! Mountain pose is a great pose for seniors since it improves posture.
Women who have developed a condition known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) usually experience nightmares and flashbacks frequently. Hatha Yoga has been shown to be effective in reducing PTSD symptoms, according to the APA.
Questions you may want to ask yourself?
What do you want to get out of it?
What are you looking for, a vigorous workout or something relaxing?
Are you interested in the spiritual aspects of yoga, or would you rather just focus on the physical?
Would you like to increase your flexibility, mobility or build strength and stability?
Don’t eat anything 3 hours prior to practicing
You’ll get better results on an empty stomach. But if you have to eat something before starting class, make it light, smoothies are good, coffee, tea, bottled water, juice… in that nature.
There is a yoga diet trending, it’s closer to a Mediterranean diet and it sounds great. It’s very important to stay heart healthy along with exercise in your daily routine.
An asana practice means getting on your mat frequently and regularly, doing that will keep you motivated Create a yoga schedule and stick to your goals. You’ll see progress with your efforts by keeping a set schedule. You may experience weight loss as well muscles you never knew existed, in a good way. Just have fun!
Please leave your comments below, I’d love to hear about your interests in yoga and decisions you’ve made.
I hope this helped you out in your decision making. I’ll be writing more articles on this subject in the future. Feel free to ask questions or leave a comment at the bottom of the page.
Thank you for stopping in and Best of Luck, Sherry
